Wedding gift box with three books and six gifts

Collection: wedding gift box

Collection History: Late Qing Dynasty and Early Republic of China

Collection concept: history cannot be forgotten, and the cultural essence of the Chinese nation cannot be lost. I hope my collection of historical relics can leave a lasting memory for Chinese children.

Lift up the bride, see her off, bow your head and cut your eyebrows to make up. Uncover the wedding gift box, a laundry list of jewels and fruitcakes. China has been a country of etiquette since ancient times, and there are many etiquette in daily life. As a festive activity, marriage, with its grand etiquette and complicated rules, reflects the traditional national characteristics and shows the cultural customs of the Chinese nation. In ancient times, marriage had to go through six procedures, namely "accepting gifts, asking names, receiving gifts, inviting parties and welcoming relatives", which were widely circulated. When the auspicious season comes, the man goes to the woman's house to meet the new woman; When passing the door, the man's family sends different bride price to the woman's family. Not to mention the types of gifts, even the gift boxes of bride price are very particular. In Mr. Xiao's home, there is a complete set of ancient wedding gift boxes.

Rectangular "three books and six gift boxes"

Three Books and Six Rites to Marry the Bride

When I came to Mr. Xiao's villa, I saw rockery, small bridges and flowing water, goldfish playing, and I had some leisure. At first glance, I know that Mr. Xiao is an interesting person with artistic sense.

Through the fence, I finally came to Mr. Xiao's elegant residence. On the antique tea table, there are four wedding gift boxes that have experienced vicissitudes. On the whole, the gift box is well preserved, but the corner of the box is still damaged. According to Mr. Xiao, this gift box was used by people in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Teacher Xiao also told us that in that era of various etiquette, wedding etiquette was very particular, and "three books and six rituals" must be observed. Poor families can't afford a beautiful wedding gift box, so they use a box made of bamboo and rattan instead, but etiquette is indispensable. The "Three Books and Six Gifts Box" collected by Mr. Xiao is rectangular, made of Chinese fir, painted with vermicelli and decorated with "Taibai Drunk", which is the crowning touch of wealth. At that time, only wealthy families could afford it.

Marriage is an important event in a person's life, so it is natural to hold it ceremoniously, regardless of ancient and modern times. In ancient times, you had to go through the procedure of "three books and six rituals" before you could marry a new wife. After the bride received the bride price, the bride's younger brother opened the "three six gift boxes", counted the bride price and handed it to the elders after sorting it out. The woman agrees to marry her daughter, and the man sends someone to meet her. This is legally married.

The so-called "three books" are the documents (including appointment book, gift book and welcome book) that should be possessed in the implementation of "Six Rites". They are written records to ensure the validity of marriage in ancient times, and also notes of mutual respect between men and women in the whole wedding procedure. The picture shows a square cake box with colorful flowers in it.

Pay attention to betrothal gifts and invitations.

Mr. Xiao not only pays attention to the collection of cultural relics, but also is very interested in the cultural background and stories hidden in cultural relics, and has collected a large number of historical and cultural materials related to marriage. Mr. Xiao told reporters that in ancient times, when a son-in-law was over 30 years old, her mother-in-law would personally make a pair of trousers for her son-in-law, which meant "promotion and wealth". In addition, he also collects all kinds of wedding invitations and invitations.

Candy fragrance sends wealth.

When you are engaged, you should not only send "three books and six gift boxes", but also more than two cake boxes and a candy box. The cake box is square, with flowers in spring, summer, autumn and winter connected on the box surface, and golden flowers painted next to it as decorations-the flowers in spring are pomegranates, symbolizing many children and many blessings; Summer flowers are lotus flowers, symbolizing a step-by-step promotion; The autumn flower is peony, which symbolizes great wealth and wealth; The winter flower is plum blossom, which symbolizes noble character. Marriage in the old society not only pays attention to the grade and decoration of the gift box, but also pays more attention to the grade of the items in the box. There is a sweet wedding cake in the box, which is beautiful and delicious. Generally, it is only done on weddings or birthdays. This traditional custom has remained in some areas to this day. Whenever there is a wedding ceremony at home, these sweet gifts will be given to relatives and friends and invited to be guests. Therefore, the wedding cake is also called "the first song of a happy engagement". In the wedding ceremony of China people, the wedding cake is an important link related to the "face" and "lining" of the couple or their parents, occupying a very important position. Therefore, the selection of wedding cake is very important, with red wrapping paper to highlight the big event.

The candy box now looks like a kettle. It is carved from a whole piece of wood and painted with bright red paint. When engaged, both boys and girls mentioned the woman's house, symbolizing the children and grandchildren. According to Mr. Xiao, who has studied this, there are four (or more) gift boxes. In the "Three Books and Six Gifts Box", in addition to the letter of appointment and silver ticket jewelry, there are walnuts, lotus seeds and red dates, all of which are rich and fertile soil.

The meaning of happiness; The "wedding cake box" is filled with wedding cakes of various materials, and the practice is similar. The size and materials of the wedding cake show the wealth of the family; The "Wedding Candy Box" is mainly used to hold all kinds of wedding candy, which is brought from the man to the woman's house when engaged or going through the door. On the wedding day, the candy box can also be used to distribute candy to relatives and friends.

Marriage custom in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China

Propose marriage

In the old days, matchmakers ran between men and women, explaining family situation, appearance and age.

The position is too small

The man invited the matchmaker to propose marriage to the woman's house, and the woman's parents agreed to write a post on her birthday, which was sent to the man's house by the matchmaker. The man asked the fortune teller to get married and ask for advice. If the male and female animals are incompatible, they can get married.

Oversized column

After the man got married, he thought he could get married. Both men and women have prepared the words "the dragon and the phoenix are auspicious" and written down their birthdays, years and appointments respectively. The man put the male post in a wooden box, wrapped it in red cloth and sent it to the woman's house together with the bride price by the matchmaker; After the woman receives the invitation, she puts it in a wooden box and the matchmaker takes it back to the man's house, which is called "engagement".

Send a dowry

Before getting married, the man first gives the woman a gift list, which is given in kind. Most of the bride price is clothes and daily necessities. Before the wedding, the man sent a "food box" to the woman; The woman sends the dowry to the man's house, commonly known as "dowry".

Make bedding and send it to the kang.

Before getting married, the man found 2-4 middle-aged women whose in-laws are alive and both of them have children to make bedding for the bride and groom, and presented some dates, chestnuts and "Ruyi", which means "having children at an early date and all the best". Two or three months before the wedding, the man wrote down the exact wedding date and put it in an invitation box, which was sent to the woman's house by the matchmaker and a boy from both parents, commonly known as "sending the day". The night before the wedding, the man's parents let the groom's unmarried brother and nephew sleep in the new house for one night, hoping to have more boys after marriage, commonly known as "pressing the kang."

The candy box now looks like a kettle.

Pick up the bride

On the wedding day, the man proposed to a couple. Before sunrise, the sedan chair was lifted, and four boys held lanterns and torches to clear the way in front of the sedan chair. When the sedan chair arrived at the door of the woman's house, firecrackers and drums rang, the bride covered her head with red cloth, and her father and brother carried the sedan chair and cried loudly, crying like rain, calling "Golden Bean" to stay at home; When an uncle or sister-in-law saw her off, my brother walked forward with the sedan chair in his hand, called "sedan chair pole", and the sedan chair landed less than half way.

(of the bride and groom) salute to heaven and earth.

That is, at the wedding, the sedan chair is carried to the man's house, and a square table is placed in the yard for the gods of heaven and earth, for the fragrance of wine and fruit, and for parents to pay homage. The bride and groom stood side by side in front of the Eight Immortals Table, worshiping heaven and earth, parents and husband and wife, all kneeling and knocking at the door. After the ceremony, the bride was helped into the bridal chamber.

Candle night

Red candles with dragon and phoenix patterns are lit in the bridal chamber, couplets are posted on the door, and the word "Xi" is posted in the room. At dinner, husband and wife sit together and eat jiaozi, which is called "children's cake". Both of them eat even numbers for good luck. On the wedding night, tin lamps are often lit to show the significance of growing bright. Before the couple goes to bed, the sister-in-law or the woman in the same family will lay the bedding for the bride and groom; After going to bed, the husband and wife don't talk, and the wind listening outside the window prevails.